Abstract
Purpose :
We developed a new electrophysiological measurement method of corneal graft before transplantation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate wellness of corneal graft using our unique electrophysiological properties measurement method.
Methods :
Male Japanese white rabbits with average body weight of 3.3 kg were manipulated according to the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. Rabbits were sacrificed and corneal tissues with approximately 2mm of scleral rims were excised immediately. The corneoscleral tissue was mounted on the artificial anterior chamber (Moria, France), on which a cup-like structure was added. The artificial anterior chamber and the cup on the epithelial side were filled with Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS). Two custom-made Ag/AgCl electrodes (Physiotech, Japan) were immersed in the HBSS in the artificial anterior chamber and in the cup of epithelial side, respectively. The electrical properties including electrical resistance and voltage difference were measured using EVOMX (World Precision Instruments, USA) immediately after graft excision. Electrophysiological properties were also measured after removal of the corneal epithelium and removal of the endothelium, subsequently.
Results :
The electrical resistance of the corneal grafts (n=4) was 395.6 (41.9) (mean (SD)) ohm cm2. After removal of corneal epithelium, it decreased to 73.5 (32.4) ohm cm2. By additional removal of endothelium, it became 33.9 (31.2) ohm cm2. The voltage differences of corneal grafts immediately after excision, after epithelial removal, and after endothelial removal were 8.6 (1.5), 10.1 (1.7), and 11.0 (2.3) mV, respectively.
Conclusions :
The electrophysiological values differ in accordance with wellness of corneal graft. The newly developed corneal electrophysiological measurement method has a potential to evaluate corneal epithelial barrier function and endothelial activity of corneal graft before transplantation.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.